Daniel Boone National Forest: Grays Arch (Blog Hike #634)

Trail: Grays Arch Trail

Hike Location: Daniel Boone National Forest, Red River Gorge

Geographic Location: east of Slade, KY (37.80802, -83.65745)

Length: 2.3 miles

Difficulty: 4/10 (Easy/Moderate)

Date Hiked: May 2017

Overview: An out-and-back, flat at first but steeper near the end, to massive Grays Arch.

Trail Information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/dbnf/recarea/?recid=39478

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=940316
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From the Slade exit on the Mountain Parkway (exit 33), take SR 15 east 3.3 miles to Tunnel Ridge Road and turn left on Tunnel Ridge Rd.  Tunnel Ridge Rd. crosses the Mountain Parkway on a concrete bridge but then turns to gravel.  Drive slightly rough but very passable Tunnel Ridge Rd. 0.9 miles to the signed Grays Arch Picnic Area and trailhead on the right.  The gravel lot at the trailhead only holds about a dozen cars, and it can fill quickly on warm weather weekends.

The hike: Much smaller and shorter than the more famous Red Rivers in the central part of the country, Kentucky’s version of the Red River flows generally westward from its source near the Wolfe/Breathitt County line to its mouth at the Kentucky River south of Winchester.  About midway through its course, the river flows through a scenic rock-walled canyon system commonly called Red River Gorge.  The “gorge” section of the Red River was named a National Wild and Scenic River in 1993.  The Red River Gorge region has since become one of Kentucky’s top hiking destinations.

The gravel Tunnel Ridge Road gives access to several trailheads in the heart of the Red River Gorge region, one of which is the Grays Arch Picnic Area and Trailhead where this hike starts.  Grays Arch is a fairly popular destination because it is a large arch that can be reached via the fairly easy 2.3 mile hike described here.  Due to the arch’s popularity and the small trailhead parking area, I recommend a weekday or winter visit to Grays Arch.  When I did this hike on a wet Friday afternoon in mid-May, there were only a couple of available parking spaces at the trailhead, and I had a decent bit of company on the trail.

Trailhead at Grays Arch Picnic Area

The Grays Arch Trail (Daniel Boone National Forest Trail #205) starts at the signed trailhead at the rear of the picnic area.  The trailhead area features a vault toilet, a nice trail map/information board, and some carsonite posts.  The wide dirt trail heads first north and then west as it follows the top of a narrow ridge.  The mountain laurel was in full bloom on my visit, and the dense broadleaf forest makes for a very pleasant setting.

Hiking along the ridgetop

At 0.25 miles, you reach a T-intersection with the Rough Trail (Daniel Boone National Forest Trail #221), which goes straight and right.  As directed by a sign, turn right to continue to Grays Arch, heading eastbound on the Rough Trail.  White diamonds painted on trees now mark your way.  Your ridgetop journey continues on the Rough Trail as you pass a brush-filled wildlife clearing.  Although the Rough Trail earns its name and reputation on some of its other sections, the section to Grays Arch is actually quite smooth.

Small rock shelter

At 0.8 miles, the trail drops off the right side of the finger ridge just before passing a couple of small rock shelters.  After a brief stretch on a narrow ledge, the descent to Grays Arch happens in earnest as you descend some constructed wooden steps.  The trail loops around Grays Arch to bring you in from the back, and about 200 feet of elevation is lost from the ridgetop to the arch’s base.

1.1 miles into the hike, the Rough Trail switchbacks to the left where the spur trail to Grays Arch continues straight.  There are no obvious signs at this intersection, but the trails are well-worn and easy to see.  A final descent brings you to the base of a tall rock cliff, where a glance up and to the left will give your first view of Grays Arch.  The trail switchbacks uphill to the left to provide better views, although trees make it hard to get a fully unobstructed view.  Measuring 50 feet high and 80 feet wide, Grays Arch is one of Red River Gorge’s largest arches.  Grays Arch is also smoother and more graceful than many arches, so take some time and enjoy this scenic landform.

Grays Arch

Grays Arch

The spur trail ends at the arch, so after viewing the arch you have to retrace your steps to the Rough Trail.  An excellent 4 mile loop can be formed by continuing eastbound on the Rough Trail and, after passing through a deep ravine, turning right on the Rush Ridge Trail (Daniel Boone National Forest Trail #227).  The Rush Ridge Trail comes out on Tunnel Ridge Road a short distance east of the Grays Arch Picnic Area.  Dark clouds loomed to the west on my visit, so I took the shortest route back to the parking lot by retracing my steps all of the way along the Grays Arch Trail to complete the hike.